Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-25
3erlin Preparing to Enjoy the Day
Quietly.
oLIrlcs TEMPORARILY sHELvED
Prince William Distributes Presents
to the Soldiers.
SOCIETY SHOWS UP A SCANDAL!
A Young Army officer Publishes His
Engagement Before Securing the
Consent Of His Intended
PrinceIy Prayers.
Christmas in Germany's Capital.

Christmas in Germany's Capital.
Copyright BS7 bu Jcmes Gordon Bernett.1
BERLIN, Dec. a4.-LNew York Herald
Cable-SpeciaI to the BEE. Berlin viii to-
morrow enjoy Christmas without much worry
about politics. clouds or actual bad weather.
About twenty thousand Christmas trees have
been sold. which fact speaks for itself when
considered. The week, almost constantly
rainy, made shopping very unpleasant work.
There has been little Of novelty in goods,
certainly nothing new enough to be worth
wading the streets to obtain. One advertiser
secured 4 rush of business by promising to
each purchaser who successfully answered
riddle a reward of 500 marks.
The numberless public celebrations began
early so rs to allow distinguished personages
an opportunity to enjoy Christmas itself.
The quiet simplicity Of these celebrations Is
well shown by that at Potsdam barracks Of
the privates Of the regiment on duty.
These were drawn along the sides of their
drill room fire by trees of blazing candles.
The room itself was decorated with ever
green's. Presents for the whole regiment wera
laid out on long tables. Prince William, with
the princess and the heirs two eldest sons,
brought with them Il number of the nobility
and several visiting princess. Elm Fest
burg ist unser GOtt' was sung with a vim
which made the walls shake. Prince Will
lam followed with speech, in which BIZ
warned his men that serious times might ba
before them for the fatherland. Each Ger.
man soldier must face manfuIly the uncer-
tain future. Then came the distribution Of
presents to the trumpeted accompaniment Of
Frederick the Greats march.
Outside Of Berlin the whole country is
covered with snow, SO that vagabonds ara
driven into the city in great numbers. They
get hard up, break pane of glass and ara
carried over the winter by sentence of foux
months in Jail.
In society there has been this week 4 scans
dal which has Interested many people. An
officer whose name Is given as Lieutenana
Won Alvensieben announced in the aristo.
cratic organ, the Krenz Zeitung, his engage.
ment TO a wealthy young lady--Fraulein
Thorsig, of Nanen. Almost before his friends
had time to congratulate him the Military
Gazette contained notice of his resig-
nation from the regiment. The gussips
allege that the Lieutenant s a mere casual &c.
qualntance of the lady and attempted TO usa
the notorlety Of the krenz Zeitung engage
ment 70 force her into an engagement with
him. Her mother however, appealed 70 the
the intrigue. II IS now stated that the off,
Ger loses his position ami prospects.
The student, Oscar Neumann, of Berlin,
who last week killed another studdnt. Hugo
Marx Lupzeing, in duel with pistols at IF.
teen PAGES, has been released without a
trial.
4 cleverly forged German bond has lust
come to light 1t was drawn and colored en-
tireiy by hand, and in ali its lines ana marks
most minutely perfect. Unfortunately for
| the forger, he worked by candle hight hence.
while the colors seem correct at night, by
day they are slightly OF shade
4 mineral spring, some suppose of
curative value, has been discovered in
the center of Berlin. The spring
was first found 250 feet below the surface
and is probably IN old sewer which has been
| tapped.
The supposed paralysis Of Joachins fourth
| finger proves to be not lasting or serious.
| The trouble is not so great that the musician
will be disabled.
Near AK la Chape lie a procession of 50Gl
persons went Wednesday to a local shrine "a
ntercede for the crown princes health. Six
teen white-rubed girls carried two immense
candles, each weighing tfty-seven pounds,
or pound for each year Of the princes aye.
The circulation or sale Of the New York
Social Science has been forbidden in Cor
many.
The auction Of last years. Berlin directo-
ries viii be held the middle of next month.
There is always demand for them at good
|